Re: PrC Contest VIII: Bow down to my Fist!

OAKEN SENTINEL

"I have long guarded these lands, guard them now, and will guard them long after you are dead, for I do not care to be hindered by a mouse such as yourself."

Oaken Sentinels are guardians of forest dwellers, and often forests as well. They are creatures who seek to emulate treants, and they grow to mighty proportions. Their skin becomes the color and texture of bark, and their bodies become like trees. They forgo weaponry, and often even armor, and use their long arms and great strength to halt smaller foes in their tracks.

BECOMING AN OAKEN SENTINEL
Many Oaken Sentinels are druids, who are well prepared to learn from treants. Many come from purely martial backgrounds as well, as they are well suited to make use of their great size in combat. Surprisingly few are rangers or scouts, but those who are make good use of ambushes, trample attacks, and speed that few other large foes can match through woodlands. In cold climates, practically all Oaken Sentinels have some degree of spellcasting ability, by necessity.

Unarmed Strike: An Oaken Sentinel's unarmed strikes deal more damage than typical for a creature of his size. An Oaken Sentinel may add half his class level (round up) to his monk levels, if any, when determining the base damage of his unarmed strikes.

Barkskin (Ex): An Oaken Sentinel gains a bonus to his Natural Armor equal to 1/2 his class level.

Powerful Build(Ex): The Oaken Sentinel may function in many ways as if he were one size category larger. Whenever subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check, the Oaken Sentinel is treated as one size category larger if doing so is advantageous to him. An Oaken Sentinel is also considered one size category larger when determining whether a creature's special attack based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect him. However, his space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual size. The benefits of this trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells which change the subject's size category.

Enhanced Unarmed Strike(Su): At 2nd level, an Oaken Sentinel's unarmed strikes are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of dealing damage to creatures with damage reduction. At 6th level, they are also treated as aligned for the same purpose.

Woodland Stride(Ex): Starting at 3nd level, an Oaken Sentinel may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at his normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment. However, thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that have been magically manipulated to impede motion still affect him.
If the Oaken Sentinel already has this ability, he instead gains the ability to leave no trail when traveling through woodlands, and cannot be tracked through them. He may, however, choose to leave a trail if he so desires.

Large Size: At 4th level, the Oaken Sentinel becomes one size category larger. His size and reach increase. His strength increases by 4, and his dexterity decreases by 2. This replaces Powerful Build.

Trample(Ex): At 5th level, the Oaken Sentinel gains a trample attack, which deals damage equal to its unarmed strike, and applies 1½ times the Sentinel's strength bonus. The DC for this save is 10 + 1/2 the Sentinel's HD + the Sentinel's strength modifier.

Overwhelming Build(Ex): At 7th level, the Oaken Sentinel may again function in many ways as if he were one size category larger. This acts as "Powerful Build," but stacks with the size increase from "Large Size."

Double Damage against Objects(Ex): At 8th level, an Oaken Sentinel who makes a full attack with unarmed strikes against an object or structure may choose to deal double damage.

Blindsight, 10ft(Ex): At 9th level, and Oaken Sentinel has Blindsight out to a distance of 10ft. It senses vibrations through solid ground, and so this ability is of no use against flying or incorpreal creatures.

Huge Size: At 10fth level, an Oaken Sentinel increases another size category. His size and reach increase. His strength increases by 8, and his dexterity decreases by 4. This replaces Overwhelming Build.You are Huge!: That means you have huge guts!Plant Type: At 10th level, an Oaken Sentinel's type changes to Plant. He gains immunity to Poison, sleep effects, paralysis, polymorph, and stunning. He is no longer subject to critical hits. He no longer needs to eat or sleep.

PLAYING AN OAKEN SENTINEL
As an Oaken Sentinel, you will wind up on the front lines. You have the HP and DR to take many blows, and your reach will allow you to dominate smaller foes. Consider focusing on impeding your foes, rather than simply bashing them. With your size and strength, you can be a capable tripper, grappler, disarmer, or all three.Combat: Generally, Oaken Sentinels focus on preventing their foes from harming their allies. Passing around one is difficult, while the Oaken Sentinel can simply trample over most foes, meaning that enemy spellcasters must take care of themselves. Advancement: The Combat Expertise chain holds some attractive options for Oaken Sentinels in core, but you should not neglect some of the more esoteric feats, such as Awesome Blow, Knock-Down, Stand Still, and at later levels, Snatch. The Barbarian class's Rage boosts your already impressive strength, while also granting a useful constitution bonus. Furthermore, your good will save is a welcome boon to any Barbarian. The Hulking Hurler PrC also provides a powerful exit, which can typically be completed before epic levels, and is not often available to PCs.Resources: A Oaken Sentinel is likely to be known and welcomed by treants and druids alike, and may well be a hero in any community to which they pledge allegiance.

OAKEN SENTINELS IN THE WORLD

"My, haven't you grown since I last saw you!"

Despite their alliances with woodland dwellers, most Oaken Sentinels become solitary, as their huge bulk inhibits life with smaller creatures.Daily Life: If given the chance, many Oaken Sentinels are content to meditate in the sun, while others are restless, and take pleasure in feats of combat, or in exploring new landscapes. Either way, they are likely to remain within contact of any potential allies.Notables: The first Oaken Sentinels were a select band of elven druids, the "Watchful Limbs," acting under the tutelage of elder treants, who aimed to protect their small kingdom from destruction. With it's fall, however, the knowledge was dispersed, in part due to Macheth Ormen, a Sentinel who eventually revealed much under torture. For some time afterwards, "pegleg" Ket Voonen, an orcish barbarian, leader, and Oaken Sentinel, lead a small, relatively peaceful force through the wilderness into civilized lands, where they eventually stopped in the face of threats by Zeyiv Ahmez, a mighty Bronze Dragon who later went on to draft the present border through this region. Organizations: Since the fall of the "Watchful Limbs," the organization has not been resurrected in any meaningful way. New Oaken Sentinels are inducted individually by others, acting of their own volition. Orcish Sentinels are perhaps the only major exception, as some are trained as woodland infantry by the largest tribes.

NPC Reaction
Almost all creatures smaller than an Oaken Sentinel will at least treat it with respect. Even arriving unannounced in a village, they can expect a pleasant welcome, for they are known to occasionally offer aid. In cities, they are seen as exotic creatures, and they rarely stay for long.
On the battlefield, Oaken Sentinels are feared by most all creatures smaller than them, and become prominent targets for anyone powerful enough to threaten them.

OAKEN SENTINELS IN THE GAME
Oaken Sentinels are a significant melee power in any woodland. On the battlefield, they function much as any large brute, and they can also function as durable scouts.Adaptation: An Oaken Sentinel should fit in any setting with a significant wilderness. Encounters: An Oaken Sentinel will function adequately as a solo opponent, but will be more fearsome with smaller allies, particularly archers, spellcasters, and any character with a Sneak Attack. Furthermore, it is not unreasonable to think that some allies might ride into battle perched upon the Sentinel's shoulders.